New love for Dickie's son-in-law

Last updated at 10:30 06 March 2006

His agony symbolised the global tragedy of the tsunami. Michael Holland, son-in-law of film director Lord (Dickie) Attenborough, lost his wife, his daughter and his mother in the tidal wave that struck their family holiday in Thailand.

But nearly 15 months after the Boxing Day disaster, shipbroker Mr Holland has, I can reveal, found some consolation in his shattered life.

He is being comforted by divorcee Denise O'Donoghue, the feisty, multimillionaire co-founder of Hat Trick Productions, makers of a portfolio of hugely successful TV shows including

Have I Got News For You, Father Ted and The Kumars At No 42.

The convent-educated Denise, 50, has quit her job as joint managing director of the £50 million company so she can spend more time with the new man in her life.

Mr Holland, who is in his 50s remains traumatised by the events of Boxing Day 2004 when his 49-year-old wife Jane - Lord Attenborough's daughter - a charity arts officer, their younger daughter Lucy, 15, and his 83-year-old-mother Jane Holland died as the wave struck the holiday resort of Khao Lak.

He survived because shortly before he'd gone inland to a golf course with his son Sam. His elder daughter Alice, who was also at the resort, survived the tidal wave.

Since the tragedy he has distracted himself by raising money for the Khao Lak Community Appeal to rebuild the shattered community on the site where he lost his family - it will provide a memorial to his huge loss.

Miss O'Donoghue has been utilising her business acumen to help him.

Poignantly, Mr Holland's in-laws have welcomed Denise with open arms. She has already met Lord Attenborough - acclaimed maker of Gandhi and Chaplin - and his wife Sheila. They are said to approve of the new relationship.

Friends say that Miss O'Donoghue, a politics graduate from York University and former management consultant, has been hugely supportive of Michael Holland.

Says one close friend: "Denise has now left Hat Trick after over 20 years at the helm. She departed last month and wants to take time out for herself and Michael."

Willesden-born Denise, a chemist's daughter, was previously married to former comic turned comedy entrepreneur Jimmy Mulville. They set up Hat Trick in a Soho back room.

When they sold their stake to City investment firm Kleinwort Capital three years ago, the two split a £23 million pay out.

Liverpool born Mulville, 50, a former comic, and O'Donoghue were married for 11 years. They remain friends and had been business partners until Denise dramatically quit last month.

Mulville is now the sole managing director of Hat Trick.

He is currently in the US setting up TV deals for the company's latest hit The Worst Week Of My Life.

It has been a textbook, if unlikely, royal romance. After dating for more than two years the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips and England rugby star Mike Tindall are still together.

What's more their relationship has prospered without trading on their formidable connections. At the weekend the couple were in New York staying at the edgy, Philippe Starck-designed Royalton Hotel, one of the city's most fashionable hang-outs. They were not drawing attention to themselves. Unlike some of Zara's royal relations, who routinely exploit their status for all that it's worth.

Was Widdecombe really so batty?

It wasn't so much that the lights flickered out

and the curtains billowed in the moonlight, but there was something of a Bela Lugosi Dracula film

about the moment.

As Michael "something of the night" Howard stood up to make a speech at the Duke of Marlborough's

magnificent Blenheim Palace over the weekend,

his voice awakened a hibernating bat, and a

shiver went round the room.

Some 150 black-tie guests who were seated

in the grand music room of the stately pile had to duck as the creature suddenly swooped low over their heads.

Former Tory leader Howard - given the spooky soubriquet by Ann Widdecombe - whose family originally hails from Transylvania and who was delivering the prestigious Churchill lecture, skilfully ignored the interruption - and the nervous titters.

Says one of the £150-a-head guests: "It became

hysterical. The bat kept flying around throughout

his talk and everyone pretended not to notice. Some of the ladies in their chiffon gowns put their invitations over their heads just in case."

Presumably none of them had a string of garlic to hand.

Better take the escalator, darling

At 17 original It Girl Tamara Beckwith had

dropped out of school, with a party habit

and an unplanned pregnancy. By contrast,

her daughter Anouska, 18, has led a

blameless teenage life... so far.

But recently the student at the prestigious Lee Strasberg drama school in New York has been seen around town with naughty lothario Benicio del Toro.

The 39-year-old Mexican-born star of Traffic

and The Usual Suspects, earned himself a

notorious reputation among Hollywood leading ladies after gorgeous Scarlett Johansson joked that they'd had sex in the lift of the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles.

Reassuringly, I am told that del Toro is just

Anouska's mentor. "He's an old friend of the

family," a chum of Tamara says. "They're not

dating. Tamara just asked Benicio to keep an

eye on Anouska while she is in America."

Tabor could beat his drum a bit

In the vain world of pop he is something of a rarity: A modest man. But despite music mogul Ashley Tabor's unshowy demeanour, he has scored

a remarkable success.

Yesterday he secured the rare feat of having two of his artists at the top of both the single charts and album charts at the same time.

Former choir girl Corinne Bailey Rae has the No. 1 album and Chico, the X-Factor runner-up, took

the singles No. 1 slot with his It's Chico Time last night.

Yet the man behind them does not even mention his name on the website of his company, Global

Talent Group. A music industry insider says of him: "He's a totally brilliant person, but hates

personal fame."

So who is this publicity-shy impresario?

I can reveal he is the Knightsbridge-based

28-year-old son and heir of multi-millionaire

bloodstock tycoon Michael Tabor, who made a first fortune from betting shops.

Tabor senior - 125th in the Rich List - who owns a third share in Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados, is

enormously proud of his bachelor son who started

his showbiz career as a runner for London's Capital Radio.

PS For most romantics St Valentine's Day may already be a fading memory, but not for David Cameron. The new Tory leader was put on the spot at his party's Scottish conference the other day and asked to share details of any gesture that confirmed his love for wife of ten years, Samantha.

He replied: "I brought her a white 1972 Fiat bubble car one birthday and wrapped it in red ribbons. Does that qualify as romantic?"

Hmmm... not bad.

He went on to say: "We also watch Desperate Housewives together." Now that's devotion.